Automating Hospitality Success: Continia and Business Central

Efficiency is everything in hospitality. Whether it’s managing supplier invoices, handling guest billing, or streamlining financial reporting, the industry demands real-time data and error-free processes. Technology that integrates seamlessly into existing workflows can be the difference between satisfied guests and frustrated teams.

In this deep-dive article, we explore how Continia’s tools, combined with the power of Microsoft Business Central, drive meaningful change for hospitality operators.

Why Hospitality Needs Smarter Finance Tools

Hospitality businesses face unique financial challenges:

• High-volume transaction processing
• Complex supplier relationships
• Frequent short payment cycles
• Seasonal fluctuations in occupancy and cash flow
• Tight operating margins

Yet many hospitality companies still rely on manual invoice entry, paper-based approvals, and disconnected systems.

According to a recent study by Hospitality Insights UK, 67% of hotels and restaurants admit they experience cash flow issues due to delayed invoice processing.

In an environment where every minute and every penny counts, automation isn’t just a luxury it’s a necessity.

Continia Can Help

Continia develops a range of add-ons for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, including:

• Continia Document Capture
• Continia Expense Management
• Continia Document Output
• Continia Payment Management

Each product is designed to automate critical finance processes, from invoice approval to employee expense handling to outgoing payments.

When embedded within Business Central, Continia transforms a standard ERP into a finance automation engine, perfectly suited to the operational rhythms of the hospitality sector.

1. Continia Document Capture

Continia Document Capture enables fully automated receipt and processing of supplier invoices.

Key Benefits:

• Automatic data extraction via OCR
• Three-way matching (invoice, PO, goods receipt)
• Automated approval workflows
• Secure document storage with easy retrieval

Hotels receives hundreds of monthly supplier invoices for linen, food, beverages, cleaning, and maintenance. With Document Capture, these invoices are automatically scanned, validated, matched, and booked, cutting manual effort by up to 80%, for a faster month-end close, fewer errors and improved supplier relationships.

2. Continia Expense Management

Expense Management allows staff to submit expenses through a mobile app, with automatic integration into Business Central.

Key Benefits:

• Real-time receipt capture on smartphones
• Policy enforcement
• Manager approval workflows
• Instant posting to accounting

Hospitality staff attending trade shows or offsite events can instantly submit expenses via their phones. Finance teams no longer chase missing receipts or manually key in claims. This results in happier employees for better retention, faster reimbursements and tighter budget control.

3. Continia Document Output

Document Output automates the sending of invoices, confirmations, reminders, and statements directly from Business Central.

Key Benefits:

• Customisable templates
• Scheduled sending of customer communications
• Full audit trails of sent documents

Hospitality venue can send booking confirmations, catering invoices, and final statements automatically. Staff can then focus on guest service, not paper pushing.

4. Continia Payment Management:

Payment Management simplifies outgoing payments with direct bank integrations and automated payment approvals.

Key Benefits:

• Multi-bank support
• Secure payment file generation
• Automated approval routing

Hospitality groups typically handle supplier payments weekly across multiple bank accounts. Continia ensures compliance, improves cash flow visibility, and reduces the risk of payment errors. This leads to stronger supplier trust, optimised payment cycles and optimised business efficiency.

Real-World Impact

Hospitality organisations that adopt Continia solutions typically report:

• Up to 90% reduction in manual data entry
• 60% faster invoice approval times
• 30% lower administrative costs
• Greater compliance with VAT and audit requirements
• Increased visibility into cash flow and working capital

At Dynavics, we have found that guest-facing teams are freed from a vast array of financial admin, allowing them to focus on what matters most, which is delivering outstanding hospitality experiences to build brand value and customer loyalty.

Because Continia is built inside Business Central, hospitality businesses benefit from:

• A single sign-on environment
• Unified financial, operational, and guest data
• Native integration with Microsoft tools like Outlook, Excel, and Power BI
• Scalable cloud deployment for multi-location operations

This eliminates data silos, reduces IT complexity, and enables truly strategic decision-making across departments.

The Future of Hospitality

As hospitality businesses move into an increasingly competitive digital-first era, Continia and Business Central offers:

• Mobile-first, real-time finance management
• GDPR-compliant document handling
• AI-driven data validation and fraud detection (in future releases)
• Scalability for franchise and chain operations

In short, a foundation for operational excellence and financial resilience in an increasingly competitive and customer-first environment.

Hotels

• Auto-match supplier invoices for room supplies
• Streamline corporate client invoicing
• Centralise multi-property expense management

Restaurants & Cafes

• Manage vendor contracts and purchase approvals
• Capture daily T&E expenses on mobile
• Simplify tip and gratuity payouts

Event Venues

• Automate booking confirmations and deposit receipts
• Handle contractor payments efficiently
• Monitor event profitability in real-time

Why Dynavics?

Dynavics is a certified Microsoft Dynamics and Continia partner with deep hospitality sector experience. Working with us means:

• Tailored system configurations for hospitality workflows
• Quick, low-disruption deployments
• Dedicated in-house support and training
• Expertise across Dynamics 365 Business Central, LS Retail, Jet Reports, and more

Hospitality is about moments that matter. With Continia and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, powered by Dynavics, you’ll spend less time wrestling invoices and more time creating unforgettable customer experiences.

Want to learn more? Click here to send us a message and we will reach-out to you, or give us a call: 01276 740 740